Arm support for use on surgical operating tables



Jan. 11, 1949. A. R. KRAUS 2,459,033

ARM SUPPORT FOR USE ON SURGICAL OPERATING TABLES I Filed March so, 1948 INVENTOR. all/in RJKraas Patented Jan. 11, 1949 YUNITEo l PATENT OFFICE a ARM-SUPPORT'FQR USEON SURGICAL I :OBERATING TABLES Alvin R;Kraus 'lqorth nonywbea oanf. "Application Maren-=30, 1948; 'Sfial-N'o. -17 ,915

This invention relates to an arm rest or support foruseon a surgical operating table.-

In carrying out certain surgical operativepr'ocedures it is. particularly necessary tohave the arm of the patientelevated away from the operativev field. Heretofore, thearm was-allowed V 7 Claims. (01. 311- 10} to rest on the operating table, which practice distorted the. anatomical landmarks, or the-arm was suspended from a stand positioned near. the operatingfltabla as by tying thewrist with-apiece of gauze to the stand. 7 This latter practice tended to impair the circulation of the blood in the arm. In either of the above described positions, the arm of the patient was so improperly supported: as to cause discomfort tothe patient and considerable inconvenience to the surgical staff during the course of the operative procedure.

Oneof the objects of my invention is'the provision of means for use on a. surgical operating table for comfortably supporting the arm of a patient without impairment of blood circulation in any operative procedure where the patient is required to lie on his side on said table.

A further object of my invention is the pro vision of a device of the foregoing character which affords a maximum of convenience to the operative staff during the course-of the surgical procedure.

A still further object of my invention is-the provision of a device of the foregoing character, which "device is simple in construction, easily attachabl'e to any standard type of surgical operating table and readily adjustable to conform to a variety of conditions.

Other and further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an arm support constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a reduced scale and showing my invention applied to a surgical operating table and in position for use.

Referring to the drawing wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral designates generally a structure which comprises a tubular or rod like upright member 6, the upper end portion 1 of which is bent in an are substantially as shown, and terminates in a bossed portion 8 which is drilled at right angles to the axis of the member 6. The arm support, generally indicated by the numeral 9 consists of a cradle shaped construction formed preferably of tubular or rod like material and includes two elongated elements II and I2 arranged in spaced relationship and connected at corresponding ends by downwardly extending substantially Ll-shaped elements It and M, the elementl3 being slightly largerth-an the element and having suitably attached thereto an off.- set stubnshaft it intended: to be received for pivotal movement in the drilled bossed portion: 8.

An adjustable supporting member indicated generally-by the numerall'l includes a; tubular lower section l8 provided'with a bifurcated terminalportion, the legs l9, i=9 of which embrace the member Band are pivotally connected thereto. The extensible-section 2! of the said supporting member includes a stem 22 telescopically receivablein the section" It and terminating in a fork, the legs 23,.23- of which are perforated at their terminal portions to receive pins or screws 24- which are-received in suitable apertures in the elements II and I2. An L-head setscrew 26- is pr'ovidedfor locking the section 2! in a posi tionof adjustment. A substantially o-shaped' clamp member 21" is provided with two alined apertures to'receive the upright member 5 and isalsoprovidedwith an L-head set screw 28 whichserves to lockthe member 6 in: a posh tionpt vertical adjustment The said clam-p member is adapted to engage the marginal flanges ofconventional surgical operating tables and to support the structure 5 in the manner shown mm; 2.;

The device of my invention is intended to be used preferably with a section of tubular knittedfabric, such as a stockinette 30 which is drawn over the cradle arm support 9 after removing the pins 24 from the receiving apertures. It will be understood that the component parts are reassembled before use.

The operation of the device of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, but briefly stated it is as follows:

While the patient is lying on his side on the operating table, the structure 5 is moved into alinement with the patient's shoulder and the height of the cradle arm support 9 is adjusted and locked in position by the set screw 28. Thereafter the elevation of the arm support 9 may be adjusted to a desired angle with relation to the axis of the member 6 by adjustment of the extensible member I1. The arm of the patient is rested comfortably on the stockinette 30 which is soft and yieldable without any binding or application of pressure of any kind to secure the arm in position.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that with the use of my device, the arm of the paport, said arm support being long enough'gtosup port an entire arm, and means between said up right member and said arm support for adjusting the elevation of said arm support about said fixed detachable-from 1 pivotal support, said means being said arm support.

2. In an arm support including an upright member secured to an operating table, a cradle shaped frame member pivotally secured 5110. said,"

upright member and providing a pivotal axis for said frame member, said frame member being long enough to accommodate an entire arm, a stock inette covering said frame member, and means between said upright imember and said'frame member for adjustin the elevation of said frame member about said pivotal axis, said means being detachable from said frame member'to permit insertion and removal of said stockinette on said frame member. 1

3. In an arm support for use on a surgical table including an upright member detachably secured to an operating table and means for adjusting said member with respect thereto, an arm support of a length to support thereon an entire arm, said arm support pivotally secured to said upright member and providing a pivotal axis for said arm support, adjustable means connected to said upright member and to said-arm support at a point removed from said pivotal axis for changing the elevation of said armsupport about said pivotal axis. 1

4. In an arm support including anupright member detachably secured to an operating table, an arm support of a length to support thereonan entire arm, said arm support pivotally connected atone end thereof to said upright member and providing a pivotal axis for said arm support, an adjustable member between said upright member and said arm support and connected'at one end to said upright and at the other end detachably connected to said arm support at a point removed from said pivotal axis for changing the elevation of said arm support aboutsaid pivotal axis. I

5. In an arm support of the class descr'ibed'in- 4 eluding an upright member detachably secured to a supporting surface, a frame composed of elongated members in spaced relation and connected at corresponding ends by U-shaped members, said frame pivotally secured to said upright member and providing a pivotal axis for said frame, and an adjustable member between said upright member and said frame and connected at one 'end to said upright and at the opposite end detachably connected to said frameat a point removed from said pivotal axis for changing the elevation of said frame about said pivotal axis.

6.-In an arm support of the class described in- .zcludin'g an upright member detachably secured to a supporting surface, a frame composed of elongated members in spaced relation and connected at corresponding ends by U-shaped members, said frame pivotally secured to said upright member and providing a pivotal axis for said frame, an adjustable member between said upright member and said frame and connected at one end to said upright and at the opposite end detachably connected to said frame at a point removed from said pivotal axis for changing the elevation of said frame about said pivotal axis, and a stockinette covering for said frame member. 7. In an arm support of the class described including an upright member detachably secured to a supporting surface, a frame composed of elongated members in spaced relation and connected at correspondin ends by U-shaped members, said frame pivotally secured to said upright member and providing a pivotal axis for said frame, an adjustable support between said upright and said frame which comprises a lower tubular section secured to said upright and a stem telescopically received in said tubular section, said stem having a pair of legs, each of which is pivotally and detachably secured to the elongated members of the frame.

' i ALVIN R. KRAUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

